Supporting youth through Les Entretiens de l’Excellence
Inclusion, talent development and future opportunities are the core of Konecta’s ESG strategy. In line with this, Konecta Foundation partners with Les Entretiens de l’Excellence, a French subsidiary focused on providing educational and professional guidance to middle and high school students. This collaboration aligns with Konecta’s commitment to fostering social mobility and supporting diverse talents.
Excellence is about becoming the best version of yourself
Established by members of the Club du 21ème Siècle, with immigrant backgrounds from Cambodia, Maghreb, and Francophone Africa, Les Entretiens de l’Excellence aims to connect students and parents with educational institutions and professionals.
The organization works as a bridge between families, schools, universities, and professionals with the purpose of opening doors, fostering dialogue, and showing young people that the future is full of possibilities.
Empowering young women in vulnerable situations
A key component of Les Entretiens de l’Excellence’s strategy involves targeted support for young women, particularly those in underserved communities
Through “tournées” (roadshow programs), which reach more girls than boys, Les Entretiens de l’Excellence removes barriers to participation by:
- Facilitating access and providing transportation to ensure student attendance
- Building networks and establishing supportive connections with educators and stakeholders.
- Building specialized initiatives like the “Women and Science” tour, in collaboration with institutions such as Polytechnique, a well-recognized public technological university, where over 300 young girls interact with female role models in diverse fields
The objective is to encourage young women to pursue their ambitions without self-limitation, thereby expanding their perceived career options.
Significant impact
Since the pandemic, Les Entretiens de l’Excellence has:
- Relaunched over 100 tours, welcoming more than 35,000 young people across France, overseas territories, and 12 cities in Africa
- Launched “Le Bon Stage” (The Good Internship) program, to connect students, including those without established family networks with relevant internships
- Engaged over 200 volunteers, supported by a core permanent team, dedicating more than 70,000 hours of support in the 2024/25 academic year alone
The program’s operational efficiency is notable, with every euro invested generating over four euros in volunteer and pro bono contributions, indicating strong community support.
The impact of Les Entretiens de l’Excellence is also and most importantly evidenced by individual success stories, illustrating the program’s effectiveness in fostering academic and professional development:
- Academic progression: Participants like “O.” have transitioned from average academic performance to graduating with honors and entering prestigious engineering programs, subsequently becoming active alumni.
- Entrepreneurial development: A group of eight students from Trappes, a Northern France city, who attended a Polytechnique tour, established a startup, secured investment, and participated in international competitions.
- Professional achievement: “S.,” a participant from a Lyon tour twelve years prior, is now a specialist doctor and serves on the association’s board, demonstrating sustained engagement and leadership.
Konecta Foundation’s contribution
Over two decades, Ananas has achieved major milestones. It is now recognized across Italy’s rare disease landscape, partnering with hospitals, institutions, and other associations. At the European level, it is a founding member of NF Patient United, working to influence rare disease policies and research agendas.
On the ground, its initiatives are practical and people-focused including school education programs, hospital volunteering, legal and psychological services, parenting support, employment training, and more.
“Our biggest success,” Maria Malatesta says, “is the community we’ve built. People who feel they belong, who help one another, and who know their lives matter.”
The partnership with Konecta Foundation
Konecta Foundation has been a proud partner in this journey. Through the apprenticeship tax contributions, the Foundation has financed six additional tours and enabled the launch and expansion of the “Le Bon Stage” program. Additionally, Konecta’s pro bono support has facilitated outreach to approximately 20,000 professionals, encouraging them to offer internships via the platform.
Additionally, Konecta’s pro bono support has facilitated outreach to approximately 20,000 professionals, encouraging them to offer internships via the platform.
Looking ahead: a milestone anniversary
In 2026, Les Entretiens de l’Excellence will celebrate its 20th anniversary, twenty years of tireless action for young people’s futures. Konecta Foundation is committed to continuing its partnership, supporting the initiative’s mission to enhance opportunities for young people and contribute to a more inclusive talent landscape.
